SOMETHING NEW TO THE TABLE

Stephanie Zubiri offers Soulful Feasts of authenticity, life lessons, and good vibes

- NANA NADAL

Stephanie Zubiri has long been a prominent figure in the culinary world, whipping up mouthwatering creations, and chronicling her explorations of top restaurants and taste-testing adventures. Lately, she appears to be immersed in a different type of fare that provides nourishment not just for the body but the mind and spirit as well.

Her podcast, Soulful Feasts, launched in October 2023. In its debut episode, she revealed that her youngest son is on the Autism Spectrum. Joined by journalist and broadcaster Karen Davila, who is also a mother to a son on the spectrum, the two women talked about their experiences, discussing both the challenges and the joys of raising a neurodivergent child.

Their conversation was open, honest, and real. It set the tone for succeeding episodes where Stephanie spoke candidly about her two failed marriages, touched on hitting rock bottom, revealed grappling with insecurities about her body, and other intimate life details. She is clearly at ease with embracing her vulnerability, and this seems to encourage her guests to lower their own defenses. "I like that it's a safe space for people to talk, I think the audience feels that," she states, adding that listeners have said that her podcast feels like eavesdropping on best friends and that the insights exchanged have helped them through difficult times. "That makes me feel happy!"